Diane’s father Gabe Mariano died peacefully this morning sometime before sunrise. He was 79 years old.

Gabe was a wonderful father, father in law and grandfather . He was a warm, quiet , capable and caring man who loved his family. I  had so much respect for him. He always did the right thing.. whether it was doing right by his family. his work, or  fixing his house or yard.  He had a calm and kind presence that I loved to be around and will always remember. We agreed on most things.. most of all, we both love his daughter.

Gabe was born in Binghampton NY  and lived in the area for nearly all his life. He had a big, close and fun Italian family. I will always remember one of the first times I met his family was at a Christmas party His brother and three out of his four sisters and their families were crowded around a table at his mother Pierene’s house loaded with delicious homemade Italian food.. By the second cup of wine, everyone was speaking Italian.. .. A few weeks ago when I visited Gabe, I asked him how he was, and he answered me in Italian .. ‘Bon !’

Gabe really loved his  three kids. nine grandkids  and three great grandkids.   and they loved him. He loved being with our boys.. Here he is with max and baby brother sam..

and here he was with sam and little gabe.. all so cute !

Our Gabe , who’s named after his grandfather was just telling us about the mischief they got into while Big Gabe was up here staung with them one time while DInae and I were away.

Gabe met my mother in law Marcia whiel she was still in high school.. and they had a long full life together. I’ve always felt loved and welcome in their home.

My boys and i particularly loved Grandpa’s basement.  Gabe spent his working life as a machinist and shop steward a first at IBM then and at Mechanical Specialties . He was clever in both his head nad his hands.  He spent hours in the basement with the boys (and me  . if I was lucky).. making things with all the tools. nuts, bolts and fastener in his basement. All were stored neatly in well labeled boxes.. and they sit there still.. He’d help the boys make all sorts of cool gadgets. I think it was their first introduction to making things something all three of my boys love(d) .  He gave me several boxes of those gadgets and I still have them in my shop. Those are still the first boxes I search when I’m looking for an exotic fastener or connector.

Gabe was all about precision. He knew threads and steel gauges and tolerances. We used to tease one another because he spoke in English measure and I spoke in metric. I never knew anyone who could do math in sixty-fourths or thousands like that guy.

I still have a few cool gizmos he made and gave us.. this is one of my favorites.. it’s a square motion that allows a perfectly circular motion. It was the first thing I went an found today when I’d heard he’s died. I wanted to hold it in my hands

We’ve knwn for a few weeks that this day was coming, but it never completely prepares you.  ..I’m really goign to miss you Gabe.. you’ve’ been a great father in law a great role model to me and my kids. I don’t really know what nature has for us after we die, but I have no doubt that your spirit is with us here and with sam somehow.  We’ll always keep you both  in our hearts.

i love you Gabe. I wish you peace.

-nite all, nite sam

-me